Container



J. M. BAER CONTAINER Jam 7:, w36.

Filed Feb. l 1935 4 SheetS-Sheet l CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q7/QQ 2 zo Z@ Q u w ITI/fr? N N J?? ja @pj y/WgM/@ J. M. BAER Jam 7 E93@ CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. l, 1955 Jan, Z, i936.7 J. M, BAER Z CONTAINER Filed Feb. l, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mimmmlllllllam Y Patented Jan. 7, 1936 PATENT FFICE CONTAINER John M. Baer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Guardite Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application February 1, 1935, Serial No. 4,564

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in containers and, more especially, a container adapted for fumigating purposes'.

In the fumigation of vegetable products with a, mixture of vapors from volatile immiscible liquids, it is necessary or desirable to provide acontainer or tank in which the products can be placed. This container must be capable of withstanding pressure, both negative and positive. For example, in fumigating with a mixture oi carbon dioxide gas or other inert gas such as hydrogen, or the like, together with a minor proportion of toxic gas such as ethylene oxide, methyl formate, or the like, it may be necessary or desirable to evacuate the container or fumigator to a pressure of 1/2" oi mercury absolute or less, and then admit the fumigating gases and bring the gas pressure in the iumigator up 'to 15 to 20 of mercury absolute.

The products to be iumigated are frequently carried in sacks, bags, and other containers, which can conveniently be loaded on trucks, carts, and the-like. In placing the products in the container or iumigator, time is saved if the bags and the like can remain on the trucks and the latter be wheeled into the container and wheeled out after completion of the umigating process. One of the features of my invention is the making of a container or fumigator rectangular in shape il@ to permit easy delivery and removal ci trucks with products loaded thereon. With a rectangular-shaped container, a smooth floor is provided to accommodate the truclr which may be on rails or not, and the vertical side walls and flat top conform more closely to the loaded truck than a cylindrical or spherical container would. Be

sides this, by making a rectangular container, the trucks can be loaded with products that will substantially fill' the container and thus result 40 in more economical use ci the iumigating gases. Another feature of my invention is the provision of a rectangular-shaped container with smooth inner walls, all the bracing being placed on the outside thereof. This permits a more economi cal use of the space inside oi the container and also facilitates the entry and removal of goods therefrom. Another feature of my invention is the provision of such a container with means for open ing the entire end, or ends, thereof to greatly facilitate loading and iumigation thereof. To this end, I have shown a door which will entirely close one end or permit the same to be entirely opened. Means are provided for hanging or sus-J pending this door so that it can beswuns entirely (Cl. 22o-1) clear of the end, thus giving free and unobstructed access to the interior of the container.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification.

In that form of device embodying the features of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings- Figure l is a view in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a top plan View, showing the door closed; Fig. 3 10 is a similar view, showing the door open; Fig. 4 is a View in end elevation, showing the door closed; Fig, 5 is a similar view, showing the door open; Fig. 6 is a view taken as indicated by the line 6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a view taken as indicated i5 by the line 'l of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view taken as indicated by the line d of Fig. 4; Fig 9 is a. fragmentary View of a corner of the door frame; and Fig. l0 is a view taken as indicated by the line i@ of Fig. 9.

As shown in the drawings, the tank or container is made of sheet metal with outside ribs or reinforcing. I prefer to use two or more sheets of metal in forming the sides, top and bottom. For example, one sheet may be bent in the middle E5 to form all or a portion of one side and top and another sheet similarly bent to vform all or a portion of the other side and bottom. The ends are closed by doors. Ihe number of sheets employed will ordinarily-depend upon the length oi the tank. In the case of a short tank, both sides and top and bottom may be formed of two sheets of metal. In the case oi a longer tank, there may be several pairs of sheets and, in such case, the adjacent edges of the sheets are suitably joined, as by welding. For example, a plurality of sheets of metal may be bent to form one side ita and the top it of the tank and a plurality of sheets bent to iorm the other side lla and the bottom llb. The upper edge of i ia is welded to the edge of itl at i2 and the lower edge Aof ita is welded to the edge of ilb at i3. 'The edges of the ad-l jacent sheets are joined, as by welding, as indicated by the seams 50.

Around the-outside of the tank, that is, surroundingthe sides, top and bottom, I provide rectangular frames ld, it, here shown as ribs or stiiening members, which are T-shaped in crosssection. The inner edges of these ribs ill 'are welded to the sheets ita, il, it!) and lib, as shown in Fig. 7. Instead of providing continuous welding on each side of the member it, I have preferred to weld sections on opposite sides which are staggered, as indicated by l5, i5. See Fig. 7. By interrupting the welding in this manner and as staggering the same, the tendencies toward distortion are lessened or eliminated.

Each end of the container is adapted to be closed by a door. Since the construction of each of these doors is similar, I need describe but one in detail. As shown in Figs. 4, 8, 9 and 10, the door comprises a rectangular plate of sheet metal I6 surrounded by a frame I1, the edges of the sheet IG being welded to the frame, as indicated by I8. Diagonal stiffening members are provided for the door. as indicated by I9. These are on the outside of the door and are T-shaped in crosssection. The edges of these members are welded or otherwise suitably fastened to the plate I6. Figs. 9 and 10 show the means for fastening the frame members Il. It will be seen that the vertical members, as indicated by I'I, have their upper and lower edges beveled and are welded to the ends of the horizontal members I1 by the welding 20.

Each end of the tank is provided with a door frame 2I carrying a sealing member or gasket 22 of rubber or the like against which the door frame I1 seats. For the purpose of drawing the door tightly against the sealing gasket 22, I provide the clamp member 23 hinged to lugs 2l carried back of the door frame 2 I. In order to give additional resistance against the pull of the clamp members 23, I provide braces 25 extending from the door frame 2| to the nearest rib I4. The ends of the members 25 are welded to the door frame and the rib I4.

For convenience in operating, one of the doors may be suspended by a bolt 26 from a swinging arm 21 pivotally attached to a-post 28 on the top of the tank. This construction permits the door to be swung completely to one side, giving entirely free and unobstructed access to the interior of the container. Obviously, both doors may be so suspended, if so desired.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many lmodifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and ar rangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claim, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: y

A pressure container, including; at sheet metal sides. top, and bottom; external rectangular frame members fastened to said sheet metal sides` top, and bottom; a door frame at one end of the container; bracing members connecting said door frame to one of the external rectangular frame members; a sealing member carried by said door frame; a. door adapted to seat against said sealing member; and means for closing the other end of the container.

JOHN M. BAER. 

